Eradication of convalescent-phaseSalmonella carriage in children with two oral doses of pefloxacin

Abstract

Fifteen children (age range 1.5 months to 7.2 years), who were excluded from schools or nurseries due to asymptomatic convalescent-phase non-typhoidalSalmonella carriage, received two oral doses of pefloxacin (12 mg/kg on days 1 and 4) and were examined on days 10, 30, 45 and 60. Definitive eradication was observed in 13 patients, all of whom had initial lowSalmonella counts in stools and were culture-negative by day 10. In the two patients who failed to respond, the same treatment was effective when repeated 4 and 6 months later respectively. No side-effects were observed. In six other children, considered as controls, eradication by day 10 was observed in only one case after administration of amoxicillin for eight days. Two oral doses of pefloxacin could be a useful and safe means for eleminatingSalmonella carriage in young children.